This word originated in the 80’s when the urban clothing style (long, tall ski caps, bright colors, baggy style, backwards baseball cap, etc) was made popular by gang members. People who wanted to look cool began to copy this style even though they were not in a gang. These people were given the name ‘wannabes’ for wanting to look like they were in a gang. Now this term is used do describe many people in varies groups who want to look a certain way b/c of its appeal, not because it reflect who they truly are.

gang member 1: hey man look at those guys over there
gang member 2: this ain't their hood
gang member 1: he dresses like it
gang member 2: nah, they are wanabees

A wanabee is somehow related to posers , but in this case the wanabee tries to fit "in" were most of the people
he knows are,so by that he tries to impress the other people so that he may be accepted...he some how searches
for info. on what bands, or singers are more talk about.

wanabees-hey what are you listening?
punk-I'm listening broken bones
wana- oh! relly I love those guys
punk- you really like them
wana- of course I've been hearing them since ever ,one of the songs I think is fucking great is WAR IS WAR from the new album.